Secret Shopper

The Event: 

I walked up to the reference desk and said, “I have a few hours, days to relax and was wondering if you could recommend a good book for me to read?”

                The librarian said, “Oh, uhm, okay.  What type of books do you like to read?”

                I answered, “I like mysteries and romances.  Sometimes I read suspense.”
                He thought for a second, then got up and started walking through the new book section.  He said, “I’m thinking something by Evanovich.  I thought she had something new, but I don’t see it.  Evanovich has some mystery with a bit of romance thrown into it.  Have you ever read anything y Evanovich?”

                “I’ve read a couple of her books,” I replied. 

                “Have you read any of her Plum stuff?  She was the first one that popped into my head,” he continued.  “Her older stuff is just as good I heard.  I personally haven’t read anything from her.” He walked me to the Evanovich books and handed me One of the Money.  “You don’t always have to start with the first one, but it’s a good place to start.”

                “Thank you,” I said.  I turned the book over to read the back of the book.

                He turned away and headed back to his reference desk.  After he left, I realized, this is the one book of Evanovich that I have read.

ANYALSIS:

The librarian didn’t use any tools to help him choose a book.  He made an okay pick for me, however I’m not a fan of Evanovich.  I think if he would have asked a couple more questions he would have found that out and maybe given me a different choice.  The book he did give me just happened to be the one I’ve read before.  I should have said so but didn’t.

                This shop was not what I was expecting.  I thought there would be more questions for me to answer.  I thought he’d use some type of tool to help him, either a book or a website.  I did expect more conversation between the two of us.  However, that could be lacking because of me not expanding my answers to his questions.  I also thought that he might have given me 2 or 3 book/author choices instead of just the one. 

                For the most part, I guess that I was looking for what Joyce Saricks says on page 5, “Most readers appreciate the conversation and the process more than a quick answer.  Readers want us to listen and help them explore.”  I was looking for that conversation about books that didn’t really happen.  Quick answers are what I felt I got and a rush of the process is what I felt was happening. 

                “Recommending is saying, ‘Take this book; it is good for you.’ Suggesting makes us partners with readers in exploring the various directions they might want to pursue.” (Saricks, pg2) This interaction was all recommending.  Maybe I should have said suggest a book instead of recommend a book at the beginning of the conversation.  I wonder if that would have made any difference?

                I might go back and try getting a different response from a different librarian.  I should be more explanatory in my answers to help get a better book recommendation.

Reference

Saricks, J. (2009). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. Chicago: American Library Association.